The Mind, Body, and Soul

Kathleen Rosenblatt is a licensed Acupuncturist and author of several books.

I recently met her and listened to her CD titled: "Cellular Meditation" and was quite impressed.

Cellular meditation for stress release has been described as: practical advice, guided imagery and breath work to help normalize biochemical imbalances. I strongly believe in the power of  imagery and use it often with my “light sedation approach”.

The 2 volume CD includes several morning and evening meditation sessions.

www.CellularMeditation.com

A. David Rahimi,MD,FAAD,FAACS.

The short answer: Try to sleep on your back! Yes it is easier said than done.

Here is an interesting article from CNN.com

(Health.com) -- Your preferred p.m. pose could be giving you back and neck pain, tummy troubles, even premature wrinkles. Here are the best positions for your body -- plus the one you may want to avoid.

The Best: Back position

Good for: Preventing neck and back pain, reducing acid reflux, minimizing wrinkles, maintaining perky breasts.

Bad for: Snoring

The scoop: Sleeping on your back makes it easy for your head, neck, and spine to maintain a neutral position. You're not forcing any extra curves into your back, says Steven Diamant, a chiropractor in New York City. It's also ideal for fighting acid reflux, says Eric Olson, M.D., co-director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota: "If the head is elevated, your stomach will be below your esophagus so acid or food can't come back up."

Back-sleeping also helps prevent wrinkles, because nothing is pushing against your face, notes Dee Anna Glaser, M.D., a professor of dermatology at Saint Louis University. And the weight of your breasts is fully supported, reducing sagginess.

Consider this: "Snoring is usually most frequent and severe when sleeping on the back," Olson says.

Perfect pillow: One puffy one. The goal is to keep your head and neck supported without propping your head up too much.

Next Best: Side position

Good for: Preventing neck and back pain, reducing acid reflux, snoring less, sleeping during pregnancy

Bad for: Your skin and your breasts

The scoop: Side-sleeping is great for overall health -- it reduces snoring and keeps your spine elongated. If you suffer from acid reflux, this is the next best thing to sleeping on your back.

Now for the downside: "Sleeping on your side can cause you to get wrinkles," Glaser says. Blame all that smushing of one side of your face into the pillow. This pose also contributes to breast sag, since your girls are dangling downward, stretching the ligaments, says Health magazine's Medical Editor Roshini Rajapaksa, M.D.

Consider this: If you're pregnant, sleep on your left side. It's ideal for blood flow.

Perfect pillow: A thick one. "You need to fill the space above your shoulder so your head and neck are supported in a neutral position," says Ken Shannon, a physical therapist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

Not Ideal: Fetal position

Good for: Snoring less, sleeping during pregnancy

Bad for: Preventing neck and back pain, minimizing wrinkles, maintaining perky breasts

The scoop: Outside of your mother's uterus, resting in a tight fetal pose isn't a great idea. When you snooze with your knees pulled up high and chin tucked into your chest, you may feel it in the morning, especially if you have an arthritic back or joints, Olson says.

"This curved position also restricts diaphragmatic breathing," adds Dody Chang, a licensed acupuncturist with the Center for Integrative Medicine at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut. And if you make this your nightly pose, you may bring on premature facial wrinkles and breast sag.

Consider this: Just straighten out a bit -- try not to tuck your body into an extreme curl.

Perfect pillow: One plump pillow -- the same as side position, to give your head and neck support.

The Worst: Stomach position

Good for: Easing snoring

Bad for: Avoiding neck and back pain, minimizing wrinkles, maintaining perky breasts

The scoop: "Stomach-sleeping makes it difficult to maintain a neutral position with your spine," Shannon explains. What's more, the pose puts pressure on joints and muscles, which can irritate nerves and lead to pain, numbness, and tingling.

"Think about the soreness you'd feel if you kept your neck turned to one side for 15 minutes during the day," Diamant explains. In this position you have your head to one side for hours at a time. You won't necessarily feel it the next day, but you may soon start to ache.

Consider this: Do you snore? "Stomach-sleeping may even be good for you," Olson says. Facedown keeps your upper airways more open. So if you snore and aren't suffering from neck or back pain, it's fine to try sleeping on your belly.

Perfect pillow: Just one (and make it a thin one) or none at all.

By: A.David Rahimi,MD,FAAD,FAACS (www.foreveryoung.net)

I recently came across an article on howtogetridofstuff.com that addressed treating acne and acne scarring. The article started out sounding relatively reasonable, urging patients to see a dermatologist if they have “too many” acne scars, but then suggested the following remedies.

I will cover each suggestion and try to give you a more medical perspective. My comments with be highlighted at the end of each paragraph. The article is written by Marvin? – It is not clear what his medical qualifications are.

• Drink lots of water: Water has amazing cleansing and rejuvenating properties. Some experts believe that the best way to treat acne scars naturally is to drink lots of water. Dead skin cells are shed off easier when your body is hydrated with enough water. New skin also grows faster and smoother when you have lots of water in your body.

I spend over 15 minute on pubmed.gov looking for even a single article that definitively shows drinking water affects acne or acne scarring. Pubmed.gov is the definitive research source and has every scientific article written in over 40 languages since the 1960s. It is free and can be accessed from any computer or library.  Drinking lots of water” is going to do little you for your acne and certainly nothing for the scarring. Too much water can cause can cause a variety of problems from electrolyte imbalance to very rare cases of CNS injury. I agree that drinking water should be part of a healthy diet but it won’t do much for your acne scarring.

• Eat fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables contain lots of vitamins and minerals that can help your skin restore its former beauty. They also contain juices which keep your body hydrated every day. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables to make your skin grow healthier and heal acne scars.

Eating lots of fruits and vegetables is healthy but will not heal your acne scars; period.

• Load up on lemon juice: Lemon juice is a kind of citric acid that's very effective in reducing or getting rid of acne scars. Drink several glasses of lemon juice each day to help your dead skin cells shed faster. New skin cells will also grow healthier and add elasticity to your skin if you load up on lemon juice.

Are they serious? Drinking several glasses of lemon juice will cause a big hole in your stomach and may seriously interfere with absorption of naturally occurring nutrients and vitamins. Once again-no scientific basis for this at all.

Before and After photos of scar improvement with needling on our Facebook site:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=189030387793715&set=a.189030057793748.51674.148514725178615

Skin Needling or Micro-Needling is a process that induces the formation of deep dermal collagen and enhances the appearance of deep rolling acne scars.

Acne and depressed scars are treated using very fine sterile needles (such as the Keith needle). The most depressed part of the scar is treated with repeated shallow (1-2mm) penetrations of the sterile needle. This procedure effectively separates the top scarred skin tissue from the deeper bound down scar tissue. These, in turn, produce autologous growth factors and Interleukins. The body is essentially fooled into thinking that trauma has occurred at the depths of the rolling acne scars and repairs itself.

Several treatments two weeks apart are necessary to get a significant improvement. Eventually deep rolling scars level off with the surrounding skin. The needling process can be followed by the application of TCA acids or long wavelength lasers to further stimulate the production of collagen and elastic fibers.

The procedure is performed by Dr. A. David Rahimi and takes about 30 minutes to perform. A thick layer of topical anesthesia (EMLA cream) or local injection of Lidocaine with epinephrine significantly reduces any discomfort.

Like other procedures there are risks of excessive bleeding, infection, and even scarring. I have had good results with Needling; especially with difficult and depressed acne scars and self-inflicted sores on the face and chest area.

The cost depends on the area treated and can range from $250 to $500 per treatment.

Become friends with us on Facebook or on foreveryoung.net and receive special offers.

A. David RAhimi,MD,FAAD,FAACS.

Gummy smile is an aesthetic disorder that can cause both men and women to be self conscious about their appearance and social interactions.

This condition is caused by the complex interaction between several facial muscles:

Levator Labii superioris alaeque nasi

Levator labii superioris

Zygomaticus minor

Risorius

I perform facelifts and am quite familiar with the interactions and positioning of these delicate muscles. A few units of botox, placed judiciously in the right position, can lower the upper lip a few millimeters and correct a "Gummy Smile”.

Allow your teeth to shine without being self conscious about over-exposure from your gums.

The procedure takes about 15 minutes to perform. There is no downtime, results are evident within 3-5 days, and may last up to 6 months.

The cost varies depending on how much Botox or Dysport is injected (Range $250-$500).

A. David Rahimi, MD, FAAD,FAACS.

I believe the question is not "If it is possible?"

The question should be: Is it safe?

I performed several breast augmentaions with autologous fat during my fellowship in 2000 (BAMBI). 

I then learned from Dr. Mel Shiffman and others that the transfered fat can rarely become calcified. The calcification itself is not an issue as it is microscopic but it MAY mask an underlying breast cancer. Five to seven percent of American women develop breast cancer during their lifetime.

I hope that we can develop better modalities to distinguish calcification from fat transfer to the breast from the malignant calcification that is sometimes seen in breast cancer. Until then I recommend to proceed with caution.

Below is an update on fat transfer to the breast by one of the leading doctors in the field:

Update on Cell-Assisted Lipotransfer

by Jeffrey Frentzen

Very few things in life truly upset me. Smoking and the morbidity and mortality that it causes make my blood boil. I believe that we have failed as a society when we allow smoking to kill over 500000 people a year in the US alone. The figure is over 10 million deaths a year worldwide. That is almost 2 Holocausts a year directly related to smoking.

Smoking also ages the skin and causes degeneration of Collagen and Elastic fibers. It causes sagging of the skin and raises the risks of various skin cancers by lowering the immune system.

A recent study by the FDA found that even transient contact with cigarette smoke causes damage; even at a cellular level by damaging the DNA.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/09/tobacco.risk/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Help a loved one stop smoking.

Zei Gesund

A. David Rahimi, MD,FAAD,FAACS.

Lasers and chemical peels, in skilled hands, help improve the appearance of acne scarring. Some patients with deeper ice-pick and rolling scars need a more tailored approach. Lasers and peels alone are simply not enough.

Subcision with a No-Kor needle can make all the difference. The needle has a small sharp scalpel like tip that goes under the rolling scars and cuts the fibrous bands. This, in turn, causes bleeding into these newly created spaces. The trauma and the blood causes collagen synthesis and significant improvement of the scars.

Deeper scars need to simply be cut with a round scalpel called a “punch”. These punches come in various sizes: 1mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, etc. After the application of the laser I look at the skin with a strong light at an acute angle. This allows me to see the areas that need more attention. Subcision is performed and deeper scars are excised with the punch and sutured.

Even deep acne scarring can be improved by 40-50 percent this way. A touch up treatments a few months later can increase the improvement to 70-80 percent.

Click on this link and then click on the clinical photographs:

Set 7, 8, and 9 show before and afters of a young patient with deep acne scarring.

http://www.foreveryoung.net/mixto-fractional-co2-laser.html

We hope to see you soon for a free consultation.

A. David Rahimi, MD, FAAD, FAACS.

How does the laser work?

The Cool Breeze Laser by the Cool Touch Laser Company kills the fungal organisms and spores that live in and under the toenail. The laser is FDA cleared and approved for this particular use.  The laser light passes through the toenail without causing damage to the nail or the surrounding skin.  The Cool Touch Laser uses instantaneous temperature monitoring to ensure safe treatment of the nail with minimal discomfort.

It will take time for the previously infected nail to grow out and for the new nail to form.  This can take 6 to 12 months depending on the rate of growth of the toenail.

How is the procedure performed? Is there any preparation?  Any Discomfort?

During the first treatment session the nails are filed down with a Diamond Dermabrader to debride the dead skin and prepare the nail. A thin layer of topical anesthesia is applied to numb the skin around the nail plate. The procedure takes 20-30 minutes to perform and involves mild discomfort from heat.

The Cool Breeze Laser is applied by the doctor to cover the entire nail.  When the appropriate temperature is reached a burst of Cryogen is released to cool the nail and stop the heating of the toenail.  Patients are able to resume their regular activities right after the procedure. 

Will the fungus (Onychomycosis) come back?

The cure rate is 70 to 80 percent.  These rates are comparable to aggressive treatment with the oral medications such as Sporonox and Lamisil. Some individuals have a tendency to re-infection with the fungal organisms. A triple strength topical anti-fungal lotion is applied once or twice a week to prevent re infections.

Laser toenail treatment is not covered by insurance.

Click on this link, or cut and paste in your browser, to look at before and after photos.

http://www.cooltouch.com/laser_treatment_for_toenail_fungus_before_and_after_photos.aspx

Please call me if you have any questions:

Zonya V.

Office manager

323 653-7700

Aesthetic cosmetic surgery is performed to restore “the youthful look”. We all can agree that some celebrities just go too far. Bruce Jenner, Heidi Montag, Donatella Versace, Jocelin Wildenstein, and Amanda Leopre are great examples.

I looked at their before and after photos on several popular sites and asked myself: How could this happen? These are intelligent, articulate people with the means to see very skilled cosmetic doctors! Are they aware that they looked better before their obsession with Cosmetic Surgery forever changed their faces?

I believe the problem is complex. Childhood insecurities, doctors that cannot say NO, and loved ones who don’t intervene are some of the factors.  We (the public) probably make things worse by giving them even more attention.

Body dysmorphic syndrome is a pervasive problem. These celebrities represent extreme cases. I deal routinely in my practice with patients who have either unrealistic expectations or want a certain a look that I cannot provide. I politely say NO; discourage them from having “cutting” surgery and urge them to find ways to reduce stress in their lives. I do provide them with a sound, effective, and safe facial treatment regimen that promote Collagen synthesis and improves their skin tone.

“Less is more” echoes out of the examining room into the hallways. Most move on to find another practitioner that will provide them with what they need. Some realize my genuine interest in helping them look better without drastic surgery.

A. David Rahimi,MD,FAAD,FAACS.

You have a choice. Almost everything aesthetic about the face can be performed surgically versus nonsurgical!

·         Eyelid Surgery: Blepharoplasty versus Thermacool/Cooltouch laser/Botox/Dysport

·         Facelift:               Rhytidectomy versus Thermacool/Cooltouch/Fillers such as Radiesse/Juvederm, fat transfer, Mixto CO2 laser.

·         Cheek Implants: Silicone Implant versus fat transfer, Radiesse, Juvederm.

·         Forehead lift:    Endoscopic Lift versus Volume replacement with fat, Thermacool

·         Liposuction:       Coollipo (laser liposuction) versus Coolsculpting (freeze the fat)

·         Wrinkles:            Surgical facelift versus CO2 Mixto Fraxel, chemical peels, filler, fat transfer

We will tailor a treatment that fits your desires, lifestyle and budget. Most of our treatments have minimal to no-down time.

We hope to see you soon for a complimentary consultation.

Thank you.

Zonya Vialltoro

Office manager

Forever Young, Inc.

Tel 323 653-7700

I recently read an article in the October issue of the Cosmetic Dermatology Journal that might interest you. I believe the title is self explanatory:

Green Tea and its Photoprotective and Anticarcinogenic Effects on the Skin. This article was written by Matthew Zarraga D.O. and David Judy, D.O.

Vol 23 No.10 October 2010 pages 446-449

www.cosderm.com

The article starts by mentioning that Tea is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world. It continues to details it’s in vivo and in-vitro photo protective and anti-carcinogenic effects.  It concludes by saying that: both oral consumption and topical application of green tea can provide both chemoprotection and photoprotection”.

Look for products with green tea extract in them and try Trader Joe' Green Tea!

Asian countries that consume more green tea are known to have lower risks for many types of cancers. On a personal note: I stopped consuming carbonated drinks a while back. Plenty of water, 2 cups of coffee, and one or two cups of green tea at night have made a big difference in the way I feel.

A. David Rahimi, MD, FAAD,FAACS.